RPI – Athawale Leads Protest in Pune, Demands Relief for Flood-Affected Families

Pune, 8th August 2024: In the wake of recent heavy rains that triggered floods in many parts of Pune, the Republican Party of India – Athawale (RPI), led by Pune City President Sanjay Sonawane, organized a protest march to demand relief for the affected families. The march began at the Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar statue at Pune Railway Station and proceeded to the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) Building. During the protest, citizens raised slogans against the Maharashtra State Government and the local administration. Key participants included RPI Regional Secretary Balasaheb Janrao, former Deputy Mayor Dr. Siddharth Dhende, Sunita Wadekar, and Regional Organizer Parashuram Wadekar.

Sanjay Sonawane highlighted that nearly ten thousand families in Pune have been impacted by the floods due to poor coordination between the Irrigation Department, Pune District Collector’s Office, the PMC Commissioner, and the Disaster Management Cell during water releases. He stated that these families have not yet received any government assistance. Sonawane demanded full compensation for the flood victims, including immediate financial aid of Rs. 25,000 per affected family. He also called for the dismissal of officials responsible for mishandling the flood response and the removal of encroachments that contributed to the flooding.

Additionally, Sonawane stressed the need to redraw the flood line and investigate any officials involved in making false assessments of flood victims or listing fake beneficiaries, with appropriate actions to be taken. He warned that without preventive measures, settlements along the river remain at risk of future floods, and called for immediate action to prevent such disasters from recurring.